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Keep up to date with the latest development on data protection, children’s rights in the digital environment and more with our news articles and press releases.


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A mixed raced teen boy has back turned to the camera, with his left hand raised in the area. He is wearing a light mint green polo. He appears to be in a learning environment, like a school. In between the camera and the room is a glass pane that has a speech mark icon in a light gray colour, with "AI" in the middle.

AI systems that exploit the vulnerabilities of children are now illegal in the EU

Article 5 of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act is a true milestone, but more is required to protect children’s rights and needs by design and default.

A row of EU Flags in front of the European Union Commission building in Brussels. It is a bright, sunny day. In the top left of the image, you can see clear blue skies. The sun is bouncing off the glass and the metal grid that sits in front of it.

New EU Commissioners commit to protect children online – will they walk the talk?

5Rights calls for a comprehensive framework to make the encouraging sentiments of the newly agreed European Commissioners a reality.

New European Commission positioned to advance child rights online

New European Commission positioned to advance child rights online

President Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed the new European Commission for the 2024-2029 term. Child rights in the digital environment are a clear priority, but challenges on capacity and conflicting priorities must be overcome.

The Berlaymont building. A close-up of the European Commission lettering which sits to the right of European Commission logo, in the middle of the image. A man walks past in a blur underneath the logo.

DSA turns 1: more potential for advancing children’s rights

Marking one year since the DSA’s enforcement for VLOPs, we look at the progress made by the European Commission and outline the need for strong guidelines and enforcement to protect child rights online.

A diverse range of children are sat at a desk, engaging with robotic equipment and technology. They are happy and concentrating.

EU AI Act enters into force: A crucial step for child protection

The EU AI Act is a promising framework towards ensuring that AI is used and developed responsibly, especially when it comes to protecting children. But its success hinges on robust implementation that prioritises children’s unique vulnerabilities.

A person in a blue suit is dropping a white ballot into a clear ballot box. The person's hand is reaching into the frame from the left side of the image and their ballot is folded in half. The ballot box is made of glass and is sitting on a table in front of the flag of the European Union: a blue flag with twelve gold stars arranged in a circle.

EU Elections: time to hold corporations accountable for children

With the Digital Services Act and AI Act including strong provisions for children rights, the incoming EU’s leaders must deliver practical change for young people.

Two children are sitting at a table, focused on a laptop. The girl points at the screen while the boy looks on attentively. The background shows a cosy room with a yellow chair, a bookshelf, and a large calendar hanging on the wall.

AI Act has potential to transform children’s online experience

The AI Act was just voted into law by the European Parliament: how will it deliver on its promises to all users, including children?

A young child with curly hair is wearing a virtual reality headset and smiling. They are dressed in a denim jacket and a white shirt, standing against a plain beige background.

Enforcing DSA for children: a moral and a strategic EU imperative

Enforcing the DSA for children is both a moral duty and a strategic necessity for the EU. New 5Rights report unveils tool designed to support enforcement of the DSA with a focus on protecting children.

A panel discussion is taking place on a stage with five participants seated in a semicircle. The backdrop displays the title 'Nordic and national implementation of the Digital Services Act' along with the names and titles of the panellists. The panellists are Leanda Barrington-Leach, Executive Director of the 5Rights Foundation; Christine Grahn, Director of Government Relations for Northern Europe at TikTok; Emilio Puccio, Secretary General of the European Parliament Intergroup on Children's Rights and Ane Vester Rasmussen, Political consultant specializing in tech and violence against children at Berns Vilkår. The stage is decorated with a round wooden coffee table in the centre, holding a bouquet of flowers, water bottles, and glasses.

Nordic countries leading on children’s rights in the digital world

The message delivered at the Ctrl + Rights Symposium was clear, Nordic countries have an opportunity to be an example in putting children’s rights at the centre of enforcement and implementation of regulation.

A view of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France. The building features a modern design with a curved, glass facade that reflects the sky. In front of the building, a row of flagpoles displays the flags of various European Union Member States, as well as the EU flag itself, which is prominently featured in the foreground. The flags are fluttering in the wind against a clear blue sky.

European Parliament pushes for safe by design tech

Despite the Parliament’s stated commitment to children’s rights in the digital environment, the revised AI Act falls short of ensuring AI systems in the EU are safe for children, by design and default.

A young girl with straight black hair is smiling as she looks at a smartphone she is holding with both hands. The focus is on her face and the phone, suggesting she is enjoying a game or video. The background is blurred.

CEN-CENELEC adopts key guidance for companies to design for children

Tech companies are now required to design services safe for children, following new guidance by EU standardisation body, CEN-CENELEC. A key step toward standardised age-appropriate design under the DSA.

A wide-angle view of the European Parliament's main chamber, featuring its distinctive semi-circular arrangement of seats. The chamber is empty, with rows of blue seats and desks arranged in concentric arcs facing a central podium. A large European Union flag is displayed on the wall behind the podium, alongside an array of flags representing the member states of the EU.

European Parliament’s revisions of AI Act risk jeopardising child safety

Despite the Parliament’s stated commitment to children’s rights in the digital environment, the revised AI Act falls short of ensuring AI systems in the EU are safe for children, by design and default.